No perfect ending for the Joyce boys of Killererin, but a testimony to the strength in depth of Galway football. Annaghdown last lifted silverware back when economic recessions were no big deal and, despite not being represented on Galway's All-Ireland winning side, go on to represent the county in Connacht this winter.
A bravely taken point by PJ Fahy, on an afternoon when both sides were misfiring, was enough to push Annaghdown through after a fraught second half which many felt might culminate in a signature flourish from Padraig Joyce.
Killererin desperately tried to revive themselves through their talisman full forward - after an abandoned second-half experiment of playing him in defence - but fell short against a young side with superior speed and imagination.
Their ambition was evident from the fifth minute when the high-flying Matt Duggan sent a long drive for full forward Michael Newell, who flashed a pass on to Carl Leonard. Killererin hauled Leonard down and the industrious Damien Burke coolly directed his penalty beyond Alan Keane's stretching frame.
Annaghdown never trailed from there and used Newell and Shane Kavanagh as target men in a series of lightning-quick attacks which ought to have yielded more than their final total. Newell was particularly starved of luck for all his effort, firing four first-half wides, including a one-on-one with Keane that he slid just beyond the town-side posts.
Killererin, though workmanlike, were one paced and will be disappointed with the overall lack of tidiness about their performance.
Padraig Joyce did begin as he left off in the All-Ireland final, casually pointing from oblique angles with his first four shots of the game. With his brother Tommy sweeping from his own 45 and John Wilson and Martin Bermingham breaking sufficient ball around centrefield, they appeared as though they could, eventually, grind down their young opponents.
But in the long, bleak minutes following the half-time restart, they suffered for their decision to have Padraig Joyce build from deep.
The one bright sequence in that period came from a sudden burst of creativity; Tommy Wilson angled a ball for Tommy Joyce to chase and the half forward fired an astonishing, no-look pass which deceived Annaghdown's back three.
Packie Mitchell was dragged to ground and Tommy Joyce stepped up for the penalty, but sent his shot crashing against the bar.
Padraig Joyce was dispatched to the front-line immediately and, contributing two points in four minutes, had the verve and artillery to swing Galway's showpiece. But twice he opted to place his team-mates in space from positions well within his own shooting range. Annaghdown looked tremendously assured despite Joyce's haunting presence around their back-line. Ronan Leonard had a flawless afternoon covering at half back, while John Mannion came in on 41 minutes and thundered a significant score 10 minutes later.
Morgan Duggan became the central midfield presence as the final progressed and, despite firing 11 wides, the front six always looked dangerous.
Killererin, down 1-6 to 0-7, persistently channelled their survival plan through Joyce. Tommy Joyce thumped a long ball for his brother after 53 minutes and the instant transfer gave Packie Mitchell time to shoot over.
But, over the last five minutes, Killererin were unable to secure the ball for Joyce to exploit, and Annaghdown, pulsing with energy and intent, earned their first title since 1987 with Fahy's deft closing point.
ANNAGHDOWN: P O'Neill; V Small, A Fitzpatrick, M O'Neill; B Qualter, R Leonard, P Creaven; Morgan Duggan, Matt Duggan; D Burke (1-3, penalty, 1 free), S Kavanagh, M Melia; C Leonard, M Newell (0-1), PJ Fahy (0-2). Subs: J Mannion (0-1) for M Melia (41 mins).
KILLERERIN: A Keane; M Nicholson, O Wilson, G Curran; K Courtney, P Miskell, T Mannion; J Wilson, M Bermingham; M Mitchell, T Joyce, T Wilson; N Joyce, P Joyce (0-7, 3 frees), P Mitchell (0-1). Sub: D Fahy for M Bermingham (42).
